Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



5. B. HASELTINE FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Nov. 8, 1927.

Filed May 24, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invader fitagyflflmltoze By W Irma

Patented Nov. 8, 19227.

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carcass, ILLIITOIS, coarser-mama or nn zawear i FRICTION SI-IOGK-ABSGRBI I TG ll/IEGEANISM.

Application filed May 24,

invention relates to improvements in friction shock absorbing mechanisms. One object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism of high capacity, especially adapted for railway draft riggings, including a plurality of relatively movable friction elements together with" means for placing the elements under lateral pressure, wherein the lateral pressure means contains'a compressible yielding element adapted to, gradually increase the lateral pressure as the mechanism is compressed.

Another. object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism including a plurality of relatively movable friction elements and spreading means for placing the friction elements under lateral pressure, wherein the action of the spreading means equa'lizes the pressure at thefront and. rearends of the friction elements.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a friction shock absorbing mechanism of the inter-calated plate type including-fric-. tion shoes co-operating with friction plates and wedge means for spreading the shoes and additional means yieldingly actuated by the wedge means for placing the plates under lateral pressure. 1

Still another object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism of the inter-calated plate type, including means for placing the plates under lateral pressure, comprising a wedge element co-operating with friction shoes engaging certain of the plates to effect movement thereof with reference to the: remaining plates which are relatively fixed, and additional yieldingly actuated means having wedging engagement with the fixed plates.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a longitudinal, horizijnta l, sectional view of a portion ofa railway draft rigging, showing my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is a front end elevational View of the shock absorbing mechanism proper. Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 3--3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional View corresponding substantially to the line 44 of Figure 2, the view being partly broken to accommodate it to the sheet of the drawing. Figures 5 and 6 are detailed perspective views of twodiiferent iris- 1926. Serial NO. 111,163.

tion plates employed in connection with my improved mechanisnr. v in said drawings, 10-1O indicate channel-shaped center or draft'sills of a railway car under-frame, to the inner faces of which are secured front stop lugs 11.l1 and rear stop lugs 12-l2. The inner end portion of the drawbar is designated by 13, to which is operatively connected. a yoke 140i usual form. The shock absorbing mechanism proper, as well as a front main follower 15, is disposed within the yoke, and the yoke and the parts therewithin are in turn. supported in operative position by a" detachable saddleplate 16 fixed to the draft'sills.

The improved shock absorbing mechanism 1 proper, as shown, comprises broadly a cas-fl iii-g A; a' main Wedge B; a pair offrietion shoes CC; a pair of movable friction plates DD; apair of .friction plates E-.E

fixed with relation to the casing; a main 'boxlke form having horizontally disposed spaced top and bottom walls 17-17,7longitudinally extending vertical spaced side walls 18-'-'18 and a transverse rear end wall 19 co-operating with the rear stop lugs 12 in'the manner of the usual rear follower. As most clearly shown in Figure 1, the side walls of the casing A are left open for the greater part of their length to permit inserton of the main springs and other elements. The two side walls .18 are provided with longitudinally disposed flat friction surfaces 2020 on the inner sides thereof; i

The main wedge B is in the form of a cast block having a flat front end face 21 adapted to bear on the inner surface of the main follower '15. Adjacent therear end, the wedge block B has a pair of wedge faces 22 22 on the opposite sides thereof converging inwardly of the mechanism; Rearwardly beyond the wedge faces 22 the wedge, block B is laterally enlarged, as indicated at 23, thereby providing an abutment forthe front end of the auxiliary spring resistance H.

The friction shoes C, which are of like design, are disposed at opposite sides of the wed e member and eo-operate with the wed e faces thereof. Each shoe G hasa flat longitudinally extending outer surface 24 adapted to co-operate with the friction plate E at the corresponding side of the mechanism. On the inner side, that is, the side nearest the wedge, each shoe C has an enlargement25 provided with a wedge face 122 adapted to co-operate with the wedge 'face 22 at the corresponding'side "of the -Wedge B. At the rear end, the. shoe C has the corresponding flange 23 of the wedge block B, which is preferably also of curved outline. I

The friction plates D which are two in number, are disposed at opposite sides of the mechanism; The plates D are of similar design and as most clearly shown in Fi ure 6, each plate has a transverse section 2? at i the rear end thereof presenting a relatively.

wide flange on the inner side of the plate and a relatively narrower flange on the outer side thereof. The end section 27 of each plate D is adapted to bear on the outer end of thecorresponding main spring resistance element F and the relatively wide laterally extending flanged portion on the inner side thereof forms an abutment for the correspondingflange 26 of the shoe C at the same side of the mechanism. Each of the friction'plates D has a longitudinally disposed fiat outer friction surface adapted to cooperate with the friction surface 20 at the same side of the shell and a longitudinally disposed flat friction surface on the inner side thereof adapted to cooperatewith the friction plate E at the same side of the mechanism. 1

The friction platesE, which are also two in number, are disposed at opposite sides of the mechanism. As most clearly shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5, each of the friction plates E comprises a vertically disposed main body portion and top and bottom horizontally disposed sections 28-28 in the form of relatively wide lateral flanges. The sections 28 are provided with wedge faces 2929 at the front ends thereof, adapted to cooperate with similar wedge faces on the yoke G hereinafter more fully described. Themainbody portion of each plate E has a flat friction surface on the outer side thereof adapted to cooperate with the inner sur- I face of the corresponding plate D and a flatfriction surface on the inner side thereof adapted to cooperate with the friction surface 24 of the corresponding friction shoe C. The friction surfaces on the inner slides of the plates E preferably converge inwardly of the mechanism. The friction plates E are held against inward movement longitudinally of the casing A, the inner ends thereof bearingon lugs 39-39 project- 7 ing inwardly from the top and bottom walls provided with inwardly projecting lugs adapted to engage within the corresponding ends of the inner coil of the main spring resistance element, thereby holding the two coils of the spring member properly centered.

The wedgefyoke G is openat the forward end, as most clearly shownin Figures 2 and 4, and comprises top and bottom arms 3131 and a transverse vertically disposed connecting section 32 at the rear end thereof. The arms 31 are laterally enlarged at the front end thereof and theenlargements are provided with inwardly converging wedge faces 129-429 at the opposite sides thereof adapted to Q perate with the corresponding wedge faces 29 at the top and bottom edges of the friction plates E. The front ends of the arms 31 straddle the wedge member as most clearly shown in Figure 4;, and thereby serve as a centering means for the same.

The auxiliary spring resistance element If is interposed between the transverseend section 32 of the yoke and the enlargement 23 at the rear end of the wedge block B. The

spring resistance H preferably consists of an outer relatively heavy coil, and an inner lighter coil.

The retainer bolt J has its opposite ends anchored to the end wall 19 of the casing A and the wedge block B, the head of the bolt being accommodated within an opening provided in the block B, and the nut of the bolt being accommodated within a hollow boss 33 projecting inwardly from. the end wall 19 Oftllfi casing A. The shank of the bolt extends through aligned openings in the hollow boss 33, end section 32 of the yoke Gr and wedge block B. The retainer bolt .J serves to maintain the parts of uniform overall length and hold the same under initial compression. All of the springs are preferably under initial compression when the parts are assembled, the retainer bolt J holding the spring H under initial compression and the springs F being held under initial compression by the plates D through the medium of the plates E and friction shoes C.

sure on the yoke G stroke is P of the block-and ,the'sh-oes. Due to'the 1nhear on the lateral enlargements at the rear .cndso f the plates D, the plates Dwill be masses in their normal releasedp'ositioniare held against outwardniovement by engage ment with the wedge face's'of the yokeG' and the wedge block B respectively; It will be "evident that due to the initial compression under which the springs are placed, compensation, for wear of the various fr ction'and wedge faces is had.

The normal 'posi'tion of tlie" parts is that 1-,"w'here'in both the fric- "ha' qe th'eir outer ends spaced from the main follower 15.

Theoperationof iiiyin'lpi'oved shock abmechanism upon a compression follows; The front follower 15 and the "wedge block B will be moved inwardly toward the casing A, thereby setting wedging action between the wedge faces h ardinovement of the block B; there will also b'ea cem-pressien of the auxiliary sprin resi tance H- at this time, tl'ierebynrging the w" ging y'oke G 'rea'rwardly and setting up a wedging action between the wedge faces of the'yoke' and the plates E which are held against lon itudinalmovement inwardly of the ca'sii'i'g. Due to the spreading action of "the wedge tion plates H outwardly and the latter will be brought into intimate frictional contact with the friction member and the yoke Gr, the fric- E and D wi'llbe forced laterally surfaces: of the casing A and the friction plates Asfthe am s of themechanism progresses, the shoes C will be carried inwardly of 'the casin'g A with the wedge B, slipping on the friction surfacesof the'plates Inasmu'chas the inner ends of the shoes carried inwardly in unison with/the "shoes, thereby compressing the main spring resistance elements F. During their inward movement, the plates D' will slip on the friction surfaces of the plates E and the casing A. During the last described action of the mechanism, the spring H will also be further compressed, thereby increasing the pres and increasing the wedging action between the wedge faces of the yoke and thefriction plates E. The described action will continueeither until the actuating force is reduced or the front main follower 15 comes into engagement with the front end of the casing A, whereupon the pressure will be transmitted directly through the casing to the stop lugs of the draft sills, the casing functioning as a column load transmitting element relieving the springs from excessive pressure. It is pointed outthat during the compression of the mechanism, the follower 15 at no time comes into engagement with the outer ends of the friction plates D or the shoes O, the friction plates D being at all times carried inwardly tion shoes a d the movable friction plates D by the'shoes' through the action of the: wedge member B. It is also pointed. out ing the progressive action of the niechanrsin, as the shoesimove inwardly'of the casings,

the lateralpressure on the friction platesfE \vrll-bebalanced, due tothe-fr'ont e-nd of the yoke being in wedging engagement with'the wedg e'faces on the plates E; It will beevident that on account ofthe eompressie of the springv If during the ac'tionof' themeehanis'm, the \v'edg'ing action 'of't'he yoke with reference to the plates E will be gradually V augmented. Sufficient clearance is provided between the inner end ofth'e oke" and the boss 33 on the end wall 1 9 of the casing A to permit the necessary inward movement of the yoke and the plates E withoutthe inner end ofih-e' yoke coming into actual engagementf'with the boss 33. V

7 Upon reduction of theactuating farce, the

expansive actio (a the auxiliary sprin re- H will tend .to' force't-lie wedge B. outwardly independently of thereleasi-g I action of the renm-iningq leinents of the s'istance mechanism. The springs F will restore-the plates and the other parts to normal position.

the wedge faces of the wedge block B and limited 'by' engagement with-the wedge faces of the yoke G. .Mov'ement outwardly of the plates D will 'belimitedby the shoes 0, the inner ends of which are engaged by the lateral enlargements at'the' rear ends" of the plates D. VWhile I what I now consider the pr ferr dmanner of carrying out my invention, the saine'is merelyillustrative, and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of "the claims appended heretol v I claim:

1. In a friction shock absorbing mecha.. nism, the combination with a friction shell of a plurality of relatively movable friction plates within the shell; wedge pressure the yoir'e to set up wedgi-ng' action between Outward movement of the wedge friction shoes C being limited by engagementwith gn outward movement of the plates E being I i I have herein shown and'descri'bed means; friction shoes co-operating with said against longitudinal movement with reference to said member, all of said plates having laterally against said member, saidmeans in-' lateral play; means for, forcing said plates eluding pressure transmitting spreading jmeans and ayoke, said yoke and certainof .Tsaidplates having co-operating wedge faces;

and spring resistance means opposing move ment of said plates and spread ng means,

said spring resistance 'means including anelement; interposed between the pressure transmittingmeans and the yoke. 3. Ina friction shock absorbing mechamsm, the combination with a friction shell having longitudinally disposed frictionsurfaces; of a plurality of relatively movable, friction plates within the shell, said plates being divided into two sets at opposite sides ,of the mechanism; friction shoes co operat- 'ing with the plates; pressure transmitting means interposed between theshoes and having wedging engagement with the latter; a main spring resistance; a yoke member within the shell, said yoke member having wedging engagement with certain of said plates; I and means for yieldingly transmitting the pressure from. said pressure transmitting means to theyoke. a

4. In a friction shock absorbing mecha-i \nism, the combination with a friction shell having interior friction surfaces; of a plurality of friction plates co-operating with said friction surfaces, said plates and shell being relatively movable longitudinally of the mechanism; a spring resistance opposing relative movement of said plates and shell; a plurality of friction plates held against longitudinal movement with reference to the shell; friction shoes co-operating with the last-namedplates, said shoes engaging said movable plates to effect movement of the latter; a yoke element withinthe shell, said yoke and second-named plates having co-operating wedge faces; a wedge pressure transmitting member interposed between the shoes and having ,wedging engagement V therewlth; and spring resistance means interposed between the wedge pressure transmitting member and yoke. v e I 5. In a friction "shock absorbing mechanism, the combination witha friction shell.

having interior'friction surfaces; of aplu rality of intercalated relatively] movable friction plates within theshelhcertain' of said plates having wedge faces thereon and the remaining plates having frictional engagement with the shell surfaces; and spreading means for placing said plates under lateral pressure, said spreading means including a yoke having Wedging engagement with the plates'provided with wedge faces a pressure transmitting, member and yielding means for transmltting the'press'ure from said member to the yoke.

6. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having longitudinally disposed friction surfaces; of a plurality'of relatively movable inter-calated friction plateswithin the shell co-operating with friction surfaces thereof;

means for yieldinglyopposing relative movement of said plates; means comprising a a pluralityof elements for placing thev plates under lateral pressure, one of said elements being in the form of a yoke member, another of' said elements receiving the actuating force and having I wedging engagement with others of said elements, said last-named elements engaging certain of said plates to effect movement thereof with respect to the remaining plates, said remaining plates having wedging engagement with the yoke member; and'yielding means interposed between said yoke element and the element which receivestheactuatingforce.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 19th day of May 1926.

STACY B. HASELTINE. 

